Unpaid child maintenance
If you cannot pay the full amount or on time
If you cannot pay child maintenance in full and on time or you’ve missed a payment, contact the Child Maintenance Service.
If you do not pay what you owe, the Child Maintenance Service can take action to enforce payments.
If your income or circumstances change, report it to the Child Maintenance Service.
If you manage your own payments (Direct Pay)
If the paying parent does not pay in full or on time, the Child Maintenance Service can change the payment method to Collect and Pay.
Both parents pay a fee to use Collect and Pay. Find out more about child maintenance payments and fees.
If you pay through the Child Maintenance Service (Collect and Pay)
The Child Maintenance Service will work out how much should be paid and when for your:
- ongoing Child Maintenance payments
- unpaid Child Maintenance
You can view your payment plan in your online account.
If you do not pay in full and on time, the Child Maintenance Service can:
- make deductions directly from your pay, pension or benefits
- take money directly from your bank account
- get a court order for payments (called a liability order)
You’ll need to pay a fee if the Child Maintenance Service uses these actions.
If a court order is granted, the Child Maintenance Service can take further actions such as seizing your property.
You can stop court action being taken by contacting the Child Maintenance Service and agreeing to pay what you owe.
How much you’ll pay
You can view your payment plan in your online account.
There are laws about how much money the Child Maintenance Service can collect from you. You must:
- be left with enough money to live on
- pay priority debts first – things like mortgage repayments, rent, utility bills, taxes and court fines